Related Burkina Faso Favorites Tips

Favorite thing: The sad news for the englishspeaking travellers is that there are not many guidebooks on Burkina Faso. Apart from LP and Roughguide (a bit outdated) books on West Africa only Bradt Guides have an english guidebook devoted only on Burkina (recent edition was May 2006). Check out all of them. It totally depends on everyone's taste.

Favorite thing: One might think that formalities entering Burkina are strict, neverthless I found them quite relaxing, though the airport in Ouaga is a small one and can get crowded as European oriented flights arrive late in the evening.
Don't expect jetways, you're transfered from your plane to the terminals by airport buses. Once you enter the building you'll be asked to present your Yellow fever vaccination certificate. Then you fill in an immigration card (do that quickly!!) and then you line up to pass the customs for your arrival stamp (it's where your passport and visa are checked). Note that you need to write down an address (hotel, guest house) in Burkina otherwise your immigration card won't be accepted. This is just few meters away from the single belt where you're supposed to pick up your luggage (if they arrive....mine did not!).

Favorite thing: You can exchange money in banks but in our case as we arrived during the weekend (late evening) we had the only option to exchange in a big hotel in Ouaga that our driver took us to. We were given a rate of 650CFA per 1€ which was not bad. In all other cases you could get even 640 CFA per 1€. In many cases you could even pay in Euros and get change in CFAs.

Favorite thing: Burkina's currency is West African CFA (Communaute Fianciere d'Afrique) which is conveniently common to Mali, Benin, Togo, Niger, Senegal, Ivory Coast. There is standard exchange rate to Euro (1€=656 CFA)
This comes usually in banknotes of 10,000 5,000 2,000 1,000 and coins that we most commonly used 500, 200, 100, 50 and 25. We had no particular problem paying with 10,000 banknote as if there were not enough changes people were kind enough to find them in the nearby shops.
In terms of costs Burkina is a bit cheaper than Mali. Definitely it is not that budget destination given the standard of living. A meal could cost anything from 4-5€ per person (in restaurants) and a spartan twin room in mid price accommodations around 20-40€. Our biggest cost was renting the 4X4 (around 85€ per day) while the gasoline was a bit less than 1€ per litter (extremely high for local standards)

Favorite thing: As yellow fever is endemic in West Africa it is prerequisite that you get vaccinated before you go there. In fact you need to show a vaccine certificate to get a visa. Otherwise forget it.
Plan to get vaccinated at least 10 days before your trip starts (I would say months). The vaccine is done at your local health authorities (in my case in Athens Public Health Headquarters) where additional information is given concerning health issues for the country you plan to travel. The vaccine was done for free, injected SC and minor adverse reactions might be expected within 5-12 days (I had none 10 days now). The vaccine lasts for ten years (so visit as much of Africa as you can). It was essential to bring along my passport as I was given an international vaccination certificate along.
More on yellow fever: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_fever

Favorite thing: Subsaharan african countries like BF encounter several precautions:
1. A Yellow Fever is prerequisite and its certificate is expected to be shown if asked. It lasts 10 years (so travel as much in Africa as you can during this period)
2. Malaria prevention is essential. Malaria often a fatal disease if let untreated is prevalent throughout the year in BF. Either Lariam, Malarone or Vibramycin should be taken as prophylaxis (ask your doctor which suits you best). Mosquito net accommodation should be advisable plus a repellent containg at least 30% DEET (several brands on the internet). It is mentioned long sleeves but I still question if it is tolearable to wear them while touring around under 38o C
Don't be paranoid about malaria prevention, but at the same time don't take it light!

Favorite thing: If you're not a citizen of a neighbouring west african country, then a visa is required to enter Burkina.
A lot has been written about possibility of visa upon arrival, but I would strongly advice you not to take the risk. In fact some airlines (I have heard Air France is such case) won't even allow you into the airplane without it.
Now the tricky part is WHERE to get it. In Greece there is no Burkinabe embassy, but luckily visa can be obtained from the French consulate. So even if there is no BF embassy in your country just check out with the French consulate (they have everywhere)
For application in Athens are necessary:
- Photos
- Passport lasting at least 6 months before the trip
- A special application form (you can fill in at the consulate, but outside my country it is possible to download it in cases like the BF embassy in Brusells or Rome)
- Copy of return ticket to BF
- Voucher of accommodation in BF ( this can be arranged if you book in advance)
- Copy of Yellow Fever vaccination
Now the bad thing is that despite in BF embassies they charge around 20-30€ for a single entry visa, in Athens they charge a hefty 60€!! Besides they can issue only a single entry 1 month visa!
Of course I can imagine noone would think to come to Athens to issue a visa for BF!!
Better check out with your country's Ministry of Foreigh Affairs, where it is possible to issue your visa. But DO get it in advance!

Favorite thing: If you enjoy the unexpected and if you are patient, go for Africa! If you are White, expect to be considered very rich even if your pockets are empty... Bargain for everything or, better, try to make local friends who will do it for you. Except in a few places in Ouagadougou, do not expect Western standards in hotels: be happy if your bed is clean and if there is a toilet you can flush. Takind a local bus out of the mains towns is an unforgettable experience: you will travel with chickens, goats and more people than you ever imagined the vehicule could contain. Be more than prudent with food and beverage. Since I had to travel far away from any "civilization", I had a stock of dried potatoe flakes (just had to add boiling water) and baby food (vegetables). I loved every minute of it although I often had to give bakschich or to wait during endless controls by official as well as unofficial police... I was som years ago and things may have changed since, but the general spirit is likely to be the same.

Fondest memory: I loved the people who make the most out of nearly nothing, are so creative (not much choice anyway). I was invited everywhere and had wonderful nights dancing local dances with children in a village in the middle of nowhere...